In May 1975, Elvis performed a special concert in Jackson, Mississippi; a benefit for the victims of a tornado that had recently devastated McComb, a town around 80 miles south of the State Capital.
It was the initiative of Colonel Parker, and although the altruistic intent could not be denied, he had an ulterior motive, cleverly using the initiative of the tornado benefit concert to coax an otherwise reluctant Elvis back to work. Following late night discussions at Graceland involving Colonel Parker himself, RCA executive George Parkhill, and concert promoter Tom Hulett, direct contact was made with Mississippi Governor, Bill Waller, and plans for the show were set in motion.
This is how Tom Hulett remembered the meeting at Graceland, as related in Peter Guralnick’s definitive biography, Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley (Little, Brown and Company, 1999);
“…I had never been this much on the inside before, and here I was all of a sudden part of a unit going to see Elvis about possibly going back to work. Elvis came downstairs in a robe looking very heavy, and we sat at the big table in the dining room in tall, high-backed chairs. There was some small talk, and then the Colonel said, ‘Elvis, you been reading about the problems down in McComb?’ And he said, ‘Yeah, it’s really terrible.’ The Colonel said, ‘You know, I think we should go down and do a benefit for those people. What do you think?’ And Elvis goes, ‘You know, I don’t know…’ Because there was this funny shit going on between them, like Elvis is saying, ‘I ain’t gonna work,’ and the Colonel is saying, ‘I ain’t gonna let you work’—and now the Colonel has finally found an outside vehicle to break the ice…Finally, Elvis said, ‘Well, I guess,’ and the Colonel said, ‘If we go down and do the benefit, we might as well add on a few dates.’ That’s when I got the connection. And Elvis goes, ‘Well, I guess so…”
The benefit concert was eventually held on May 5th 1975, towards the end of what had expanded into an 18 show southern tour, between April 24th and May 7th.
Elvis and Colonel Parker covered all their own costs, and everyone from onstage talent to road crew donated their time for the show. The State Fair Coliseum and staff were also provided at no cost. As a result of this cooperation at all levels, Elvis was able to hand a cheque for $108 860, from arena ticket sales alone, to the State Governor, prior to the show. The amount would go even higher from the sale of donated Elvis merchandise. The First Lady of Mississippi, Ava Waller, described Elvis' demeanour backstage as ‘very friendly’ and ‘surprisingly shy’.
The Delta Democrat Times wrote;
“…Elvis Presley returned to his native state for a benefit performance Monday night and received a thunderous reception from more than 10,000 fans who packed the Mississippi (State Fair) Coliseum. The 40 year old Tupelo native, a little heavier now but dazzling in a baby blue casual suit and dark blue shirt, strode onto the stage amid cheers and screams…”
A resolution of appreciation was passed in the Mississippi State Legislature, stating; “This compassionate gesture of concern is appreciated by all Mississippians”.
In order to secure the State Fair Coliseum at no cost, a deal was done that Elvis would return there for some paying dates. He performed three sold out shows over June 8th and 9th. There are apparently no surviving bootlegs of the benefit show, but the June 9th performance was recorded at the soundboard.
